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Three eminent researchers from The University of Western Australia have been named among the finalists for the 2014 Scientist of the Year to be announced at the Premier's Science Awards on 21 August during National Science Week, Australia's largest annual celebration of science.

Professors Colin MacLeod , David Sampson and Ian Small are among 13 finalists in four categories announced by WA Premier and Science Minister Colin Barnett today.

Mr Barnett congratulated the finalists and acknowledged the significant role they were playing in building the State's science capacity.

"I am impressed by the calibre of this year's finalists and the outstanding scientific research and engagement efforts taking place in the State," he said.

"As well as advancing our knowledge and understanding in a range of disciplines, they have demonstrated exceptional leadership, communicated their science beyond academia and attracted significant investment to the State."

The 2014 Premier's Science Awards feature four award categories across scientific research and engagement.  Now in their 13th year, the 2014 awards are again proudly sponsored by Chevron, ExxonMobil and Woodside.

SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

Professor Colin MacLeod

Director Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion (CARE), School of Psychology, UWA

Professor MacLeod is a leader in the field of cognition and emotion. His research focuses on understanding the thought processes that underpin emotional vulnerability and resilience. He is one of the most highly cited researchers in Australia across all disciplines. He has won over 20 competitive research grants and founded the UWA Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion that fosters and supports interdisciplinary collaborations to advance understanding of normal and abnormal emotion.

Professor David Sampson

Director Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA), UWA

With over 20 years research experience in optics, photonics and microscopy, Professor Sampson understands the value of world-class equipment to scientific research and local industry.

As Director of the CMCA, he oversees the WA nodes of the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility and the National Imaging Facility, supporting industry access to these WA facilities. Under his direction, the Nanoscale Characterisation State Government Centre of Excellence attracted $20million in research funding. Professor Sampson established the award-winning Optical+Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, which now has an international reputation for excellence in biomedical optics and biophotonics.

Professor Ian Small

Chief Investigator ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Energy Biology, UWA

Professor Small's research focuses on understanding how plants capture, store and release energy. Investigating how genes are controlled, his discoveries have provided the basis for efficiencies in large food production with implications for agriculture and the environment. This year he was listed by Thomson-Reuters as one of the world's most highly-cited authors, ranking in the top one per cent for his subject field.

Since coming to Western Australia as a Premier‘s Fellow in 2006, he has established the world leading Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence of Plant Energy Biology and attracted over $57 million ARC funding to the centre.

WOODSIDE EARLY CAREER SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR

Associate Professor Paul Stanwix

Assistant Director for Research, UWA Centre for Energy, ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Fellow, UWA

Professor Stanwix's research focuses on extremely precise measurement techniques with applications in fundamental and applied science.

His contributions range from testing Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity with world-record precision, to demonstrating alternative, low-cost methods for water monitoring.

In 2008, he received the inaugural Australian National Measurement Institute Prize for contributions to measurement science and was recently awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Research Fellowship.

CHEVRON SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Astrofest

Astrofest is a free annual event which engages the community with astronomy through a range of interactive activities. The event provides opportunities for stargazing and features engaging science shows as well as talks from local astronomers. Visitors can also learn more about the Square Kilometre Array. This is an initiative of the Astronomy WA Collective and co-ordinated by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research with support from Scitech and the Astronomical Group of WA.

Running since 2009, each year the event has attracted between 3,500 and 4,000 people. Events are also held by regional communities with support from the Perth Astrofest team.

Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER ) Science Engagement Initiative

CIBER's Science Engagement Initiative aims to increase community awareness about honeybees. It showcases the links from bees to pollination, food and honey and the industries and people that depend on them.

CIBER uses a variety of strategies to engage audiences, including an academy award nominated documentary, an annual public Honey Festival in the Swan Valley, a permanent honeybee exhibition at Scitech and a dedicated social media page encouraging users to follow ongoing activities.

Background:

UWA dominated the awards in 2013 with internationally recognised geotechnical engineer Winthrop Professor Mark Randolph named Western Australian Scientist of the Year;  Associate Professor Shazzad Hossain won the Woodside Early Career Scientist of the Year; PhD student and Australian hockey player Tristan Clemons was named ExxonMobil Student Scientist of the Year; Professor Myra Keep won Science Ambassador of the Year and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology was named the Chevron Science Engagement Initiative of the Year. Western Australia's Chief Scientist and UWA Professor of Animal Biology Lyn Beazley was inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame.

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Media)                                              (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716